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Blockbuster Boxing Confirmed: Canelo vs. Crawford Set to Electrify Fans

Published 4 hours ago4 minute read
Precious Eseaye
Precious Eseaye
Blockbuster Boxing Confirmed: Canelo vs. Crawford Set to Electrify Fans

The boxing world is abuzz for a monumental clash as two of its most dominant fighters, Canelo Alvarez and Terence "Bud" Crawford, are set to collide in a highly anticipated showdown. This once-in-a-generation event is scheduled for Saturday, September 13, at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. Fans globally can stream the fight live and exclusively on Netflix, with coverage beginning at 3:30 p.m. ET, the main card expected at 8 p.m. ET, and the main event ring walks following at 11 p.m. ET.

Canelo Alvarez (63-2-2, 39 KOs), the formidable 35-year-old reigning WBC, WBA, WBO, and IBF super middleweight champion, will put his undisputed titles on the line. He currently holds the No. 8 spot in ESPN's pound-for-pound rankings. His opponent, the undefeated Terence "Bud" Crawford (41-0, 31 KOs), a 37-year-old southpaw, is a four-division king boldly moving up two weight classes to 168 pounds for this monumental challenge. Crawford is ranked No. 3 on ESPN's pound-for-pound list.

Canelo enters the bout after successfully defending his titles against William Scull in May, a fight that saw him become the undisputed 168-pound champion for the second time in his illustrious career, though some described it as an underwhelming performance. Crawford, ending a year-long hiatus, last fought in August 2024, where he captured the WBA junior middleweight title from Israil Madrimov, a victory he himself expressed some disappointment about due to its tactical nature and going the distance.

Canelo's career is marked by numerous defining moments. His best performance is often cited as his unanimous decision win against Gennadiy "GGG" Golovkin in their trilogy fight on September 17, 2022. This victory allowed him to retain his undisputed super middleweight championship and settled their rivalry with a clear statement, four months after a decision loss to Dmitry Bivol at light heavyweight. His most spectacular knockout came on November 2, 2019, when he delivered an 11th-round KO against Sergey Kovalev, moving up two weight divisions and becoming a world champion in a fourth weight class. The first fight against Gennadiy Golovkin on September 16, 2017, although a controversial split draw, is considered his most important as it spurred him to improve and conquer more weight divisions, ultimately silencing critics. His most dominant win was an eighth-round TKO over Billy Joe Saunders on May 8, 2021, at a record-setting indoor boxing event, where he fractured Saunders' orbital bone to unify super middleweight titles. Conversely, his unanimous decision win over William Scull in May 2025 is seen as his most disappointing, a "sleep-inducing affair" where he threw a meager 152 punches, seemingly doing just enough to set up the Crawford fight.

Terence Crawford's journey is equally impressive, characterized by an unblemished record. His best performance came on July 29, 2023, with a ninth-round TKO against Errol Spence Jr., a technical master class where he floored his rival three times to become the undisputed welterweight champion. This win significantly cemented his status as a pound-for-pound elite. Crawford's best knockout was against Yuriorkis Gamboa on June 28, 2014, in a ninth-round TKO during his first world title defense of the WBO lightweight belt, featuring a sweet right uppercut that uprooted Gamboa. His most important fight, the unanimous decision win against Ricky Burns on March 1, 2014, in Glasgow, Scotland, launched his career, allowing him to claim the WBO lightweight title and establishing his reputation as a talented prospect. The sixth-round TKO victory over Amir Khan on April 20, 2019, stands out as his most dominant win, as Crawford showcased his power, speed, and ring smarts to tame a faster opponent and land twice as many punches. His unanimous decision win over Israil Madrimov on August 3, 2024, to become a four-division champion, is described as his most disappointing, a tactical chess match where he went the distance for the first time in years and expressed dissatisfaction with his own performance.

The stakes for this encounter are incredibly high. For Crawford, a victory over Canelo would be historic, making him the only male boxer in the four-belt era to achieve undisputed champion status in three weight classes. For Canelo, a decisive win against Crawford would undoubtedly elevate his standing further from his current No. 8 pound-for-pound ranking. The event promoter, Alalshikh, has even offered a bonus if either fighter secures a win by knockout, adding another layer of excitement to the main event.

Beyond the headline fight, a compelling undercard is scheduled. This includes Callum Walsh vs. Fernando Vargas Jr. in a 10-round junior middleweight bout, Christian Mbilli vs. Lester Martinez in a 12-round super middleweight contest, and Mohammed Alakel vs. John Ornelas in a 10-round junior lightweight clash. Other notable fights feature Serhii Bohachuk vs. Brandon Adams (junior middleweights), Ivan Dychko vs. Jermaine Franklin Jr. (heavyweights), Steven Nelson vs. Raiko Santana (super middleweights), Reito Tsutsumi vs. Javier Martinez (junior lightweights), and Sultan Almohamed vs. Martin Caraballo (lightweights).

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